134: Candied hawthorn

The two of them slowly stepped onto Yin Street Avenue, and the scene before them was staggering. The place was bustling with ghosts coming and going, an incredibly lively sight.

Looking as far as the eye could see, stalls were set up everywhere on both sides of the road; some vendors had even simply laid out a piece of black cloth to start their business.

Rows of shops stood along the street, but unlike the magnificent decorations of the living world, Yin Street seemed to have remained frozen in time.

It still bore the traces of bygone years, with an ancient and simple architectural style that gave the entire district a unique, bustling atmosphere.

Shang Wan Ning walked with great interest, her gaze drawn to a roadside stall selling candied haws.

The skewers of candied haws were crystal clear, their glossy coating tightly wrapping around the bright red fruit.

What made them unique was that each piece of fruit actually had a thin layer of pulled sugar hanging from it. It looked even crispier and more delicious, and it didn't seem like it would stick to one's teeth easily.

Shang Wan Ning didn't hesitate to buy two skewers of candied haws. After casually tossing a few incense offerings to the ghost vendor, she couldn't wait to take a bite of the candied haws in her hand.

Immediately, a sour and sweet (crossed out) flavor spread through her mouth.

"Hmm, not bad. The balance of sweetness and acidity is just right, though it's a pity the quality of the sugar is a bit lacking," Shang Wan Ning commented while savoring it with relish.

Standing to the side, Meng Jiang looked at the Empress expectantly, seeing her holding a skewer in each hand and eating with great joy.

Meng Jiang couldn't help but lick her lips, secretly grumbling in her heart, 'This person is actually only thinking about eating for herself; what a selfish woman!'

"Hmph, eating alone! Are those candied haws really that good?" Sister Meng was full of hope that Shang Wan Ning would remember to buy her a skewer as well, but the reality left her greatly disappointed.

Just then, Shang Wan Ning seemed to notice Meng Jiang's thoughts.

She slightly raised her eyebrows, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth, and then gently brought the candied haws in her hand to Meng Jiang's lips, as if saying, "Here, have a taste."

"There! Personal service from the Empress."

Meng Jiang couldn't wait to open her mouth and take a big, hard bite.

However, when the thing entered her mouth, she froze instantly—this wasn't the crunchy fruit she had expected at all, nor did it have the wonderful sweet and sour taste she had imagined.

The so-called "candied haws" seemed to have lost their soul. The sugar melted in her mouth almost instantly, turning into a soft mush between her tongue and teeth.

It didn't feel like a delicious candied haw; instead, it felt more like tasteless cotton candy—hollow and bland.

Meng Jiang's expression turned ugly in an instant, her previously expectant eyes now filled with disappointment and dissatisfaction.

Her face even faintly took on a greenish tint, looking quite strange.

Shang Wan Ning had been watching the changes in Meng Jiang's expression all along. Seeing her like this, she couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

But she still put on a look of concern and asked insincerely, "Well, is it good?"

Meng Jiang suppressed her internal discomfort and barely managed to swallow the bite of fruit.

Then she quickly reached out and tightly grabbed Shang Wan Ning's wrist, saying somewhat angrily, "Your Majesty! You clearly did this on purpose. How can this be considered good? It's absolutely terrible!"

[It's more than just 'not good'! This thing is like chewing wax; it's hard to even swallow!]

Shang Wan Ning gave a light laugh and explained slowly, "Of course it's not good. These are just candied haws that only the lowest-level little ghosts can afford."

"Those in the upper echelons of the Underworld usually enjoy Yin Cuisine carefully prepared by Grandma Ghost."

"As for the ordinary employees of the Underworld, most of them choose to eat in the cafeteria and occasionally go to the night market for a treat."

Meng Jiang was so angry she trembled all over, her chest heaving violently, like surging and magnificent 'oppai' in the ocean.

Her eyes went wide with anger as she stared fixedly at the person in front of her.

"If Wanling dislikes my usual extravagant spending, you might as well say it directly! Why bother beating around the bush and finding ways to mock me like this?"

The corners of Shang Wan Ning's mouth curled up slightly. She took light steps, slowly approaching Meng Jiang's ear, and whispered in a low voice, "I heard a high-level Paper Crafter has recently arrived at Yin Street. I was thinking of having him craft a few roast chickens for us to try. What does Sister Meng think?"

After hearing this, there wasn't a trace of excitement on Meng Jiang's face. She only responded indifferently, "Just roast chicken, what's so special about that?"

"A thousand years ago, I had already tasted Yin Cuisine made by Grandmaster-level Paper Crafters countless times. Those delicacies were truly unforgettable!"

Hearing this, Shang Wan Ning couldn't help but smile faintly.

"If this Paper Crafter is to make meat dishes, he'll need some fresh blood. And the higher the quality of the blood, the more delicious the food will be." As she spoke, she raised her jade-like hand, gently stroking her slender fingers, a hint of slyness in her eyes.

"What if I were to use a drop of my own fingertip blood?" Shang Wan Ning looked at Meng Jiang with a smile, her eyes full of teasing.

Upon hearing these words, Meng Jiang's eyes lit up instantly, and she couldn't help but stick out her tongue to lick her lips.

She knew better than anyone that the Empress's essence blood was a rare treasure in the world, something that couldn't be bought for 'billions' in gold.

But alongside her joy, she couldn't help but feel some concern. She frowned and asked with a slight hesitation, "It's just... I wonder if this high-level Paper Crafter's skills are actually reliable?"

"If your precious essence blood were to be wasted, Your Majesty, that would be a real shame!"

Shang Wan Ning, however, guaranteed with full confidence, "Don't worry, this Paper Crafter's skills are superb. He will definitely make food that satisfies you."

...The two of them walked side by side slowly down the wide street. Regrettably, it was hard to see a single restaurant here.

Actually, this made sense. After all, most of the cultivators and ghosts who came here were looking to hunt for treasures, not to satisfy a temporary craving for food.

Furthermore, this avenue was simply too long. If someone wanted to walk the entire length of Yin Street Avenue,

they would likely face the impending closing time of the market before they even had a chance to buy a single item they liked.

Shang Wan Ning was leading Meng Jiang toward a paper craft shop.

Although the destination was not far ahead, because the alleys were winding and complex, they still had to cross several streets to reach it.

Along the way, the two of them walked while admiring the eccentric cultivators and all sorts of strange and unusual items along the roadside.